William Wilson

Academic Background

Bill Wilson, Professor of Theatre, is currently the Director of Musical Theatre and the Director of the Performing and Fine Arts Commission at Rhode Island College in Providence, Rhode Island, He served as Chair of the Music, Theatre, and Dance Department from 2004-07. Previously, he served as Associate Director of Theatre at Minnesota State University at Moorhead, where he also served as an Assistant Professor, and as the head of the Dance program. Bill has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Bill has directed and choreographed over 75 productions including CRAZY FOR YOU, HAIR, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, FAME, THE MUSIC MAN, TOMMY, QUILTERS, COMPANY, CABARET, DAMES AT SEA, EVITA, THE BOY FRIEND, SOMETHING’S AFOOT, RED HOT AND COLE, ANYTHING GOES and CHICAGO, as well as the world premiere of the opera AIR. He has directed plays such as: EXECUTION OF JUSTICE, A DOLL HOUSE, PLAY IT AGAIN SAM, ROMEO AND JULIET, MACBETH, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE CRUCIBLE, THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS and TAMER OF HORSES. As a choreographer and movement specialist, Bill has studied Tap, Jazz and Ballet since his childhood, and, in the last fifteen years, Pilates, Yoga, Alexander, Feldenkrais, and Rolfing.

In 2003, Bill became a certified Pilates instructor through the PhysicalMind Institute and in 2007 earned a second Pilates certification with Power Pilates. He is an instructor at the Providence Pilates Center in Providence, Rhode Island. In 2004, he became a certified Yoga teacher. As a period movement specialist, Bill has studied with Peggy Dixon at the Nonsuch Early Dance Institute in London, England and in Carmona and Valderrobres, Spain, Richard Powers at Stanford University, Elizabeth Aldrich at the Goucher Early Dance Institute and John Broome of the Stratford Festival. Also a specialist in tap dance, Bill has studied with Diane Walker, Brenda Buffalino, Germaine Salsburg, Bill Bailey, and Josh Hilberman.

Bill has taught at The Guildhall School of Drama, and at the Early Dance Circle in London, England, at the Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Carmona, Spain, the University of Windsor, Ontario, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Western Michigan University, Wayne State University, Southern Illinois University, North Dakota State University, Wheaton College, the Culver Military Academy, and for the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Bill has taught master classes at the National Dance Educators Organization National Conference, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Dance National Conference, the American College Dance Festival and at the American College Theatre Festival, for which he is also a respondent. Bill’s original work A-MIRROR-CA, co-authored with Angelica Vessella was honored for “Outstanding Writing, Ensemble, and Execution” by the American College Theatre Festival in 2012 and his work from PIPPIN was performed at the the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC as part of the National American College Theatre Festival in 2011.